HC Deb 19 November 1984 vol 68 cc35-6W
Mr. Fatchett

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will be represented at public local inquiries held to examine his strategic planning guidance on unitary development plans, in the event that the metropolitan counties are abolished.

Mr. Macfarlane

My right hon. Friend the Secretry of State is from time to time represented at public local inquiries into objections to local plans. He might similarly be represented at these proposed inquiries should the need arise.

Mr. Fatchett

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional staff provisions he has budgeted for in the regional offices of his Department to handle each of the aspects of the unitary development plan systems, should the metropolitan counties be abolished (a) preparation of commencement orders, (b) drafting of strategic planning guidance, (c) servicing the regional planning conferences, (d) organising public consultation of draft strategic planning guidance, (e) considering public response to guidance, (f) drafting revised guidance, (g) ensuring that guidance is not undermined by part II unitary development plan proposals, (h) servicing any increased number of examinations in public or private inquiries, (i) ensuring consistency between district councils' interpretation of guidance and part II proposals and (j) justifying guidance at examination in public or private local inquiries.

Mr. Macfarlane

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will publish his estimates of the overall costs and savings associated with abolition with the explanatory and financial memorandum to the main abolition Bill.

Mr. Fatchett

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends that his strategic planning guidance on unitary development plans, in the event that Cmnd. 9063 is implemented, will be challengeable at an examination in public.

Mr. Macfarlane

Where an examination in public is held in accordance with the proposals in the "Revised Proposals Paper: The Reallocation of Planning Functions in the Greater London Council and Metropolitan County Council Areas" (June 1984) to consider part of Part I of a unitary development plan, there will be an opportunity to discuss strategic guidance where this is relevant.

Mr. Fatchett

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in what manner, and by what mechanism, he intends to conduct public consultation on the strategic planning guidance he intends issuing for each district council's unitary development plan if Cmnd. 9063 is implemented; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Macfarlane

The "Revised Proposals Paper: The Reallocation of Planning Functions in the Greater London Council and Metropolitan County Council Areas" (14 June 1984) explains that it is proposed that such guidance will be published in draft, and there will be an opportunity for comments to be made and considered before the guidance is finalised.

Mr. Fatchett

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that the general public are given the right of objection to strategic planning guidance in unitary development plans and that there will be a right of hearing for objections before guidance is issued in its final form.

Mr. Macfarlane

I refer my hon. Friend to my previous answer on the opportunity for comment on draft strategic guidance. The proposals for the adoption of unitary development plans include provision for a right of hearing at a public local inquiry for objectors to the plan.

Mr. Fatchett

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to propose that, following the issue of a strategic planning guidance for a unitary development plan, an inspector at a subsequent public local inquiry will be empowered to make recommendations varying that guidance; and whether a district council will be empowered to make such variation irrespective of the inspector's recommendation.

Mr. Macfarlane

It is proposed that an inspector at any such public local inquiry would consider objections to the unitary development plan and make recommendations as appropriate for the modification of that plan. The powers of the local planning authority to consider the report of the inspector, to publish a statement of their decisions on each recommendations, with reasons, and to advertise proposed modifications would be the same as present powers in relation to local plans. As at present, inspectors and local planning authorities would have regard to any regional planning guidance and apply it as appropriate in the local circumstances.